Review: Ordinary Days at the London Theatre Workshop

Ordinary Days

London Theatre Workshop

Reviewed on Friday 14th March 2014

Following 2008 and 2011 London runs, Adam Gwon's musical Ordinary Days has returned to London. The production is the first show to run at the London Theatre Workshop, a new fringe venue in Fulham. Set in New York City, Ordinary Days follows the lives of four characters as their day to day business connects and intertwines.

Interview: Oliver Watton

Oliver Watton is currently starring as Jason in Ordinary Days at the London Theatre Workshop, a new fringe venue in Fulham. 

Ordinary Days had its London premiere in 2008 at the Finborough Theatre, and was later presented at Trafalgar Studios 2 in 2011. The musical is set in New York City and follows the lives of four characters – Claire, Jason, Warren and Deb - who find themselves connecting with each other in remarkable ways. This new production is directed by Artistic Director of London Theatre Workshop, Ray Rackham.

Oliver recently finished a two year run understudying Fiyero in the West End production of Wicked. Just a few of his extensive theatre credits include: Godspell's 40th Anniversary Concert (Manchester Palace), Rolf Gruber in The Sound of Music (Plenary Hall Kuala Lumpur) and the UK Tours of Kes, The Witches Of Eastwick and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His screen credits include playing Olly Larkin in Hollyoaks.

I recently caught up with Oliver to discuss what attracted him to Ordinary Days, how he's finding his first experience of fringe theatre, his time in Wicked and which three songs he would take with him to a desert island...

How has your Ordinary Days experience been so far?

Really good, I’ve never done a fringe show before so it’s been very exciting and different. It’s nice to be creating something as a team from scratch and this production is opening a new venue in Fulham. The whole venue has had a refurb and the pub downstairs is really stylish. It’s a boutique theatre and a really nice space to work in. 

Interview: Oliver Watton, currently in Wicked

Oliver Watton is currently in the West End production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. He has had a career spanning across Theatre, Film and Television. His Theatre credits include The Sound Of Music, Kes, The Witches of Eastwick and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His Film and Television credits include Postcards, Casualty and Hollyoaks. Oliver talks to West End Frame about Wicked, the differences between working on Television and Theatre and his hopes for the future...

You are currently in the West End production of Wicked, are you enjoying it? 

Very much. I absolutely adore this show. It’s so beautifully put together. It’s exciting and moving and funny and all the things a musical should be. I remember seeing the original cast here in London and being blown away by the whole production. To be part of it now feels like a dream come true. I still have moments where I have to pinch myself. 

It’s hard work though as it’s such a busy show for the ensemble but of course it’s also great fun. I feel very lucky to be not only in a job that I love but also blessed with one of the friendliest companies I’ve ever been in. I’m thrilled to be staying on for another contract. 

New Wicked Cast Announced

At long last the new cast of Wicked has been announced! So, without further ado,  from Monday 29 October 2012, Wicked will star: Louise Dearman (Elphaba), Gina Beck (Glinda), Ben Freeman (Fiyero), Louise Plowright (Madame Morrible), Keith Bartlett (The Wizard), Christopher Howell (Doctor Dillamond), Sam Lupton (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Hayley Gallivan (Standby Elphaba), Lucy van Gasse (Standby Glinda), Florence Andrews, Gemma Atkins, William Bozier, Oliver Brenin, Lauren Brooke, Philip Catchpole, Aisling Duffy, Chlöe Hart, Jacqueline Hughes, Robert Jones, Sophie Linder Lee, Tania Mathurin, Marc McBride, Stacey McGuire, Tom Muggeridge, Sean Parkins, Michelle Pentecost, Stuart Ramsay, Lindsay Taylor, Paulo Teixeira, Justin Thomas, Hannah Toy, Matt Turner, Oliver Watton and Jason Winter.